Skip to main content

Europe leads the way as the USA and others reduce breaker sound levels

Europe’s stand on sound is being heard around the world by the hydraulic breaker market. While many countries have not specifically adjusted their national sound guidelines, the Europeans have essentially done it for them, two industry experts revealed at Conexpo 2014.
March 3, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Europe’s stand on sound is being heard around the world by the hydraulic breaker market. While many countries have not specifically adjusted their national sound guidelines, the Europeans have essentially done it for them, two industry experts revealed at Conexpo 2014.

“In Europe, they set the rules,” said David Nakamura, president of Toku America. “And the manufacturers have to respond.”

The issue has become significant enough in Europe to force the 2440 Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) into putting together a group of industry experts charged with looking at the hydraulic attachment tool market. The group, which consists of leading industry manufacturers, is addressing “silent demolition tools” and noise-reduction solutions.

Reduced sound levels are occurring naturally in other parts of the world as manufacturers reach the European standards so they can continue to do business in that market.

“It takes a little longer to get to the U.S. because the mentality is different,” said Keith Becker, product development specialist at 161 Atlas Copco. As quieter equipment becomes available, local governments are more likely to demand that it is used when working near hospitals, nursing homes and schools, Becker said.

In the US, sound levels have drawn the most attention in California and the north east area of the country. “Regulation is going to the driving force behind changes in the US,” Becker said. The CECE is looking at new approaches and techniques as well.
%$Linker: 2 Asset <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 2 49588 0 oLinkExternal <span class="mouselink"><span class="oLinkExternal">www.cece.eu </span></span> Committee for European Construction Equipment web false /EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?alId=49588 false false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • D-TEC launches new sorting and demolition grapples
    November 30, 2012
    D-TEC has launched its new sorting and demolition grapples for the Asian market during bauma China 2012. The new range from the Dutch company is available for excavators from 0.7tonnes up to 50tonnes. Said to be made in its state-of-the-art production facility, the new D-TEC grapples feature Hardox wear parts; are low weight; have maximum load force; and offer easy maintenance for the operator. They are made to ISO 9001 standards.
  • Sobratema predicts $6 billion-a-year spend on construction equipment
    April 18, 2013
    More than US$ 800 billion of major infrastructure investment projects will drive increasingly high levels of demand for the global construction equipment supply sector in Brazil over the next five years, according to a new report from Sobratema, the Brazilian association of technology for construction and mining. The entire chain of supplies and services will benefit from a massive Brazilian road-building and social housing construction boom as the country gears up to host the 2014 soccer world cup and the
  • Sobratema predicts $6 billion-a-year spend on construction equipment
    January 6, 2017
    More than US$ 800 billion of major infrastructure investment projects will drive increasingly high levels of demand for the global construction equipment supply sector in Brazil over the next five years, according to a new report from Sobratema, the Brazilian association of technology for construction and mining. The entire chain of supplies and services will benefit from a massive Brazilian road-building and social housing construction boom as the country gears up to host the 2014 soccer world cup and the
  • Sobratema predicts $6 billion-a-year spend on construction equipment
    April 18, 2013
    More than US$ 800 billion of major infrastructure investment projects will drive increasingly high levels of demand for the global construction equipment supply sector in Brazil over the next five years, according to a new report from Sobratema, the Brazilian association of technology for construction and mining. The entire chain of supplies and services will benefit from a massive Brazilian road-building and social housing construction boom as the country gears up to host the 2014 soccer world cup and the